WIPSEN EMPOWERS WOMEN…To fight for their rights

In commemoration of this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD), which fell on March 8th, 2011 women activists and women empowerment crusaders, Women Peace and Security Network Africa (WIPSEN-Africa), last week organised an inter-generational dialogue for women and young girls from different schools in Accra.

The dialogue, which was on the theme: ‘Why we fight,’ was aimed at creating awareness among young girls on how far women activism and feminist movements have come as well as helping them know their rights.

The event brought together 15 women activists and 70 girls from some selected private and public schools.

The Executive Director of WIPSEN-Africa, Ms. Leymah Gbowee, in an address, stated that the time has come for all women to work hand in hand with female activists in fighting for equal rights with their male counterparts.

“All women must endeavour to work in tandem with female activists in fighting for equal rights between men for what men can do on this earth, women can do it equally,” Ms. Leymah Gbowee stated.

She said the inter-generational dialogue is geared towards educating women on ways of achieving equality between men in all fields of endeavour.

According to her, the theme for the occasion was carefully chosen to create awareness among young girls on the need to know their rights in the country.

“The theme” Why we fight” is to create awareness among young girls on the need to know their rights in the country and also defend themselves during discrimination,” the executive director stated.

For her part, Mrs. Jane Amavi Kwawu, an International Gender Consultant, advised that women must as, matter of urgency, spearhead the fight for their rights.

She added that women must also take up positions of political office in the country.

“Women must- as a matter of urgency- spearhead the fight for equal rights between them and men. Women must also vote and be elected into political office to help in the decision-making of the country,” Mrs. Amavi Kwawu said.

WIPSEN-AFRICA was established as a women-focused, women-led Pan-African non-governmental organisation, to promote women’s strategic participation and leadership in peace and security governance in Africa.

The role of WIPSEN-Africa is to serve as a platform for professionalising women peace and security in Africa.

The institution serves as a forum for blending policy, research and practice in the areas of gender and women affairs, peace, conflict and security.

Its vision is to ensure that the African continent is free from abuse and violence and discriminations on the continent that would foster peaceful co-existence, equality, collective ownership and the full participation of women in decision-making on peace and human security.

STORY: BEATRICE DEDE ASIEDU

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